To the Editor:

I would like to commend the Marion Planning Board for how they handled last Monday night’s meeting with CVS. It was a packed Music Hall filled with opposition to CVS moving the Captain Hadley House and building a 12,900 square foot building on that corner lot. After hearing and reviewing the CVS proposal the Planning Board got it. Chair Stephen Kokkins set the tone by pointing out that the size was too big for the location (four times the size of Cumberland and five times the size of Dunkin' Donuts) as well as changing the “gateway to Marion” by moving an historic building. Traffic, congestion, drainage, parking, curb cuts all exacerbate a difficult corner already congested by the Cumberland Farms traffic nightmare. And who knows what the 40 B project will add to traffic in that area.

Each member spoke up about how they felt and what issues were of concern. Eileen Marum pointed out that CVS corporate is moving overseas. Robert Lane stated that we have no assurance about the occupancy of the building should CVS abandon it and we end up with a vacant building like the old Cumberland Farms. Ricco Ferrari urged residents to get involved in the Master Plan process. He pointed out that Route 6 today is not reflective of the character of Marion.

We need to attract good, small, local business with proper zoning and planning and stop just fighting the formula stores we don’t want. I hope that all who showed up Monday night will continue to show up and be part of the planning process.

Sincerely,

Margie Baldwin